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Ya know we had 2nd best DEF in SEC w/ 20ppg. Bama was first and gave up only 13ppg. Yet both teams watched SECCG from home. Simplistically speaking it comes down to just winning games, esp in your own division. Both teams probably can point back to one single play that would've sent them to Atlanta (possibly Marquez North catch or Auburn's miraculous return) But I think Ward's looking back at the UGA game from last year, where our Offense did enough to win that game but the DEF was just a no-show. He knows that this year if we can hold teams like UGA, Mizzou and Florida (teams we need to beat) to around 17pts, our offense is good enough to do just that.

At first I thought this sounded silly, stats don't win games. But maybe this can be used as motivation to keep us from losing focus when we are up 28-3 starting the 2nd quarter.

It falls in line with Coach Spurrier's belief in setting goals and working hard towards achieving them. Perhaps a hard number like 17 ppg allowed or 18 ppg allowed won't in itself translate into reaching the SECCG, but it's a good goal for the young defense to work towards and focus on in order to get better and prepare for the season. And in the process of doing that, they will improve...

Coaches could keep player focus even in games that are not close. Alternatively, give players motivation for achieving low scoring games against teams like Clemson so that our defense will have some cushion against the better teams on our schedule.

I have used that number a lot recently with discussion of our defense and how they are faring. Can't remember when I was made aware of it but some talking heads mentioned that 17 points allowed was what a very good NFL defense should strive for, and I kind of extrapolated this to between 17 and 21 for NCAA and 21-24 for HS level. No empirical evidence here but rather a lot of attention paid to scoring defense stats.

Whammy will be on point if he and the defense can meet this goal! I will be anxious to see it unfold!

I don't know how much they saw the field when EJ was here, but Brison Williams and Sharrod Golightly were here in 2011.

As far as Whammy's goal is concerned, I like that he's setting the bar and setting goals. A previous poster made a good point about maintaining focus when we get up 28-3 or the like, and I'm sure that has something to do with it. That said, it's going to be tough to only give up an average of 17 PPG.

Next season will be the 3rd one without Johnson. That being said, we already know he calls plays as good as Johnson, and his defenses improved throughout last season which shows he can still coach 'em up. Doable goal.